Apple Shares Rise as US Judge Allows Google Search Deal to Continue

Apple Inc. shares climbed in extended trading after a US federal judge ruled that the company's lucrative search partnership with Google can remain intact. The arrangement, which designates Google as the default search engine on Apple's Safari browser, generates an estimated $20 billion annually for the iPhone maker.

Judge Amit Mehta's antitrust decision prohibits Google from entering exclusive search contracts but permits default search agreements—provided partners like Apple promote alternative search options and allow annual default setting changes. "Cutting off payments from Google would cause substantial downstream harms," Mehta noted, underscoring the economic interdependencies at play.

The ruling preserves a critical revenue stream for Apple while maintaining Google's dominant search position across 1.5 billion active Apple devices. Market analysts suggest the decision may temporarily stabilize Big Tech valuations amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny.